Laser induced fluorescence studies of the charge transfer reactions of N2+ with Ar and N2

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Abstract
The charge transfer reactions of N2+ with Ar and N2 have been studied using laser induced fluorescence to monitor N2+. The ions were formed initially within a quadrupole ion trap by electron impact of neutral N2. The experimental conditions were varied such that the trapped N2+ could be examined under collision free conditions or after experiencing a controlled number of collisions with selected background gas. The ion–molecule collisions rapidly altered the internal energy distribution of the trapped N2+ and by monitoring these changes charge transfer cross sections for individual initial vibrational states of the N2+ with Ar and N2 have been estimated. The results show a strong vibrational dependence of the charge transfer cross section in the N2+–N2 system and no measureable dependence in the N2+–Ar system.